Group Scratch Build

bondoman

Thank you Rich. I have it all except the table saw (I have a full size one) and a good drill press. Or a keel clamp but that sounds kind of optional with a little ingenuity.

I feel pretty confident as far as the bulkhead assembly and keel goes, but I have no idea how to plank the hull. Off to do some research.

I suggest http://modelshipworld.com/phpBB2/hptintro.php for a pretty good tutorial on the subject. Just don't take it as 100% gospel. Once you've done it you'll have developed your own method.

Thank you Rich. I am pretty terrified that this is really difficult.

bondoman

Thank you Rich. I am pretty terrified that this is really difficult.

Bill, you're right. Planking a wooden hull has my vote for the most difficult process in modeling. Having said that "millions" of modelers without your experience do it. It's good, however, to be terrified. Sharpens the skills.

Maybe you;d be more comfortable with a simpler subject than what you contemplate. How about "Mistral", an image of which I posted earlier. The plans are model specific, it;s a simple design (motor launch), and the drawing are clear. I wouldn't mind building her. I'll add a couple of images.

Here's the entire plan set of Mistral. Simple and pretty!

If it's a steel hull, do you sand it smooth, scribe the plating and paint it?

bondoman

If it's a steel hull, do you sand it smooth, scribe the plating and paint it?

I don't know. do what you want I guess. I only do wooden hulls in wood. Seems odd to me to go to the trouble of planking and end up with a wooden RMS Titanic, but I've seen it done. 

That's it? Nobody else?